Apparatus for coordinating the operating rate of forming thread with the drawing thereof



NOV. 23, 1948. BURKHQLDER 2,454,731

APPARATUS FOR COORDINATING THE OPERATING RATE OF A FORMING THREAD WITH THE DRAWING THEREOF 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21, 1942 ZSnnentor ALDEN HBURKHOLDEI? (Ittorneg v Nov. 23, 1948. sufi y 2,454,731

APPARATUS FOR CORDINATING THE OPERATING RATE OF Filed Nov 21, 1942' FORMING THREAD WITH THE DRAWING THEREOF 2 Sheets-She et 2 Zinnentot ALDEN a BUR/(HOLDER I E- Jim 2.

attorney Patented Nov. 23, 1948 APPARATUS FOR COORDINATING THE OP- ERATING RATE OF FORMING THREAD WITH THE DRAWING THEREOF Alden H. Burkh'older, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application November 21, 1942, Serial No. 466,432

'7 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to an apparatus for insuring uniformity in the production of thread, or the like of synthetic origin. In the production of such materials, the apparatus generally includes means for forming the thread and means for collecting the thread as it is formed. The present invention provides an apparatus for visually comparing the operating rates of the thread-forming and take-up means of such apparatus and facilitates the precise coordination of said thread-forming and take-up means thereby insuring greater uniformity of the product.

In the operation of apparatus for the production of thread of synthetic origin it is necessary to correlate the rate at which the thread is formed with the operating rate of the take-up means to insure the desired uniformity in the thread being produced. The thread-forming means and take-up means are usually maintained in proper operating relation with respect to each other by the employment of positive driving means for actuating both the thread-forming and takeup means. It is, however, advantageous under certain circumstances to introduce variable driving means into the apparatus for actuating either the thread-forming means or the take-up means or both in order to facilitate rapid conversion of the apparatus to permit a change in the character of the thread produced when such change is desired.

In apparatus employing a variable driving means for actuating one or both of the threadforming and take-up means, it is difiicult to satisfactorily correlate the operating rates of the two means so that a uniform product will be produced. As a result of introducing the variable driving means, the problem arises of maintaining the operating rates of the thread-forming and takeup means in proper relationship. In the op:- eration of such apparatus, even after the proper relationship has been determined, deviations frequently occur by reason of unavoidable mechanical difliculties such as change of adjustment, wear of the driving means, and the like. Such variations occurring in the course of the spinning operation may causeirregularities in the thread.

These irregularities arising in the thread, whether they be found in a single thread or between two or more threads, may'become particularly troublesome after the thread is woven or knitted into fabrics. The present invention provides a novel apparatus not only to assist in determining that the proper ratio exists between the operating rates of the thread-formingand takeup means for each individual machine but also to detect deviations in the functioning of the machines, thereby preventing the occurrence of irre ularities in the product.

In accordance with the invention, a predetermined ratio between the operating rate of the take-up means andthe rate at which the thread or the like is extruded from the thread-forming means, is selected the operating rate of one of the means is visually compared with that of the other and the operation of one of the means is adjusted to the extent necessary to coordinate its operating rate with that of the other of said means as determined by visual comparison whereby the previously selected predetermined ratio between the operating rates of the two means is established. The invention also provides novel apparatus which comprises a stroboscopic viewing means and control means for producing an intermittent operation of said viewing means, said control means being associated with and actuated by one of the means which is being checked.

Although the invention is described herein as being applied to apparatus for the production of thread, it is equally well adapted to use in connection with a paratus for the production of other thread-1ike articles such, for example, as tapes, bands, ropes, filaments, or the like.

i The invention will be further described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 represents an elevation with parts broken away of one form of machine with which the, method and apparatusoi the invention are particularly well adapted to be employed; Figure 2 is a front elevation with parts broken away of one form of device which applies the inventive concept; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the device of Figure 2; and Figure 4 illustrates diagrammatically a wiring circuit for the power unit associatedwith the device of Figures 2 and 3.

The apparatus shown in Figure 1 embodies the thread-forming elements and take-up means of a continuous processing apparatus of the type shown and described in Knebusch et al. Patent 3 2,225,642 for the continuous manufacture of artificial silk thread or the like.

In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a drive panel 5 which advantageously takes the form of that shown and described in Torrence et al. Patent No. 2,323,879, is located at one end of the apparatus as a whole. Motor 6 comprising part of drive panel 5 actuates a variable driving means such, for example, as speed-changing mechanism I mounted on housing 8 of drive panel 5 through a suitable driving means such, for example, as a conventional chain and sprocket drive (not shown) enclosed within housing 8. 'A conventional worm and gear type speed reducer 9 is operated from the speed-changing mechanism 'i and serves to reduce the speed ofmotor 6. to the proper operating range for driving longitudinally extending shaft 10 which is supported by a plurality of bearing brackets H from the machine frame.

A conduit l2 extends lengthwise of the machine directly in front of shaft as seen in Figure 1 and is supported by bearing brackets H C01]: duit i2 serves to supply pumps l3 mounted upon said conduit 1'2 by meansof yokes [4 with a spinning solution from which threads of synthetic origin are-formed. Pumps l3 are actuated from shaft It! by means ofsuitable gearing l5. The spinning solution supplied by conduit I2 is forced by means of pumps i3 through tubes E6 to apron blocks H. The spinning solution passes into mass tubes I 8 supported bysaidapron blocks ii and emerges from spinnerets 19 which are secured to the lowermost end of mass tubes i8 and are adapted to be immersed in a suitable coagulating medium such, for example, as spin bath 20 for the formation by an extrusion'process of thread of synthetic origin.

Thread T is withdrawn from the coagulating medium in which it is formed and. passed to a suit able takerup or collecting device, in this instance a cantilever thread-advancing reel 2!. Reel '2i illustrated in Figure 1 comprises two intermeshing sets or bar members 80, 8| forming its thread" bearing peripheryand advantageously takes the form of the device shown and described in Knebusch Patent 2,210,914. By the operation of reel 2t, thread Tiscontinuouslybut temporarily stored in, the form of a helix comprising a plurality of closely spaced turns and thereafter discharged from a point on the periphery of reel 2i to be passed to another part of the apparatus where further processing operations are performed.

A plurality of; reels M are. mounted on a suitable transmission 22' a number of which are pref: erablyarranged side by side and operated by a single lqll itudinally extending shaft 23. Shaft 23 l ke. sh t which a a es pumps I3. is driven by, motor 6 through the medium of the atorementionedchain and sprocket drive enclosed in housing 8 of drive panel and speed reducer. 24 which is also mounted on housing 8 of drive panel Shaft 23 is, thereiore, positively driven through gears and sprockets. Its speed ma if d ir e a i d changing e iprockets. n the drive means enclosed in housing as, he inh fpre exp ained. it is des r ha he ebs, a d ci s io Po i el main a between the rotational speed of reels 2i and the operationof pumps It for the purpose" ofiriaihtaining the uniformity of the thread produced in the spinnin operations. One embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings which comprises interrupter unit 25, a'stroboscopic viewing means which may advantageously take the form of light source 26, and power unit 21 is intended to facilitate the accomplishment of this purpose.

Interrupter 25 is adapted to be demountabiy secured by clamping means 28 to conduit l2 adjacent one of the pumps 13. Clamping means 28 is made up of a semi-circular portion 29 corresponding in diameter to that of conduit l2 and hinged portion 3i which is similar in shape to said semi-circular portion 2?! and is hingedly mounted thereon by means of pin 75. Clamping mean'stii is fitted about conduit i2 and hinged portion 30 is then adjusted with respect to said semi-circular portion 29 by a wing bolt 3! which extends through an oversized hole 7% in lip 32 of hinged portion 30 and is threaded into semhcircularportion 29.

In order to permit the position of interrupter 25 to be adjusted manually about the axis of conduit l2, clamping means 23 is provided with a compression spring 33 which is inserted between the head of wing bolt 3! and lip 32 of hinged portion 36. By virtue of this construction, the fit of clampin means 28 on conduit [2 is rendered just sufficiently tight to enable interrupter 25 to remain in whatever position it is placed with respect to conduit 52. The position of interrupter 25'may thus be readily adjusted so as to cause it to be either in or out of operating engagement with gearing l5 which actuates pump i3from shaft 12.

Upwardl extending arm 34, secured to semicircular portion 29 of clamping means 28 and advantageously being unitary therewith, is provided with handle 35 and horizontally extending hub portion 39. Mounted in hub portion 36 of arm 34 is a spindle 31 held in place by means of nut 38 threaded on one end thereof and shoulder 39 in hub portion at. Mounted upon spindle 31 is cylindrical bushing iii to which interrupter gear ii and drive gear 42 are secured by means of keys 43 and 4 2 which register withkeyways L5 and it, respectively, cut into'said bushing til. Bushing 40 is positioned axially with respect to spindle 3? by means of washer 4'! and nut 8 threaded on the end of spindle 37.

At the base of arm 34, plug-in receptacle 49 is provided together with angle'bracket 5% Angle bracket 56 is so constructed that it is capable of being adjusted in a direction parallel to the vertical axis of arm 3 t by set screws 5i which engage the sides of slot "i9 in said bracket. Secured to angle'bracket 58 is a make and break device which advantageously takes the form of breaker means 52 comprising two spaced, flexible strip elements 53 and 54 which are preferably made of some material characterized by a good electrical conductivity and mounted in insulating member 18. Elements 53 and 54 are provided on their adjacent surfaces with contact points 55 and 56. Wires 5'! and Elli connect each of the terminals of the plug-in receptacle 49 with elements 53 and 54, respectively. An electric cable 59 on the ends or" which are mounted plugs 60, 68, one of which is'inserted in plug-in receptacle 49, serves to connect interrupter 25 with power unit 2'3.

Element 53 is slightly longer than element 54 of breaker means 52 and extends upwardly so as to contact the toothed periphery of interrupter gear 4 I. As interrupter gear 4! is rotated, element 53 being flexible, is moved up and down, thus intermittently making and breaking contact between contact points 55 and 56 of elements 53 and 54, respectively.

Power unit 21 comprises, case 6,! in, which are enclosed a suitable electric storage battery which may advantageously be of the dry cell variety, a coil, a condenser, and receptacles to which the several units of the device of the invention may be connected. The operation of the unit is controlled by a toggle switch 62 mounted on the panel 63 of said case 6|. The electrical current from power unit 27 is supplied to a suitable lamp 64 in light source 26 by mean of cable 56 which for ease in handling may advantageously be coiled in a wire reel 6'! mounted on case 6| of power unit 2'! and connected thereto by means of plug 68.

The electrical circuit employed in power unit 27 is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 4 of the drawings. One terminal of battery 69 is connected through toggle switch 62, interrupter receptacle Hi, to which cable 59 is connected, condenser H and coil 12 to one of the terminals of the receptable 14 for lamp 64. The other terminal of the battery 69 is connected through the other of the terminals of the receptacle 14 for lamp 64 to coil 12, thereby closing the circuit when toggle switch 62 is snapped into closed position.

Power unit 2'! is shown as being secured to the machine structure at a point adjacent drive panel 5. Hook 1'! adjacent reels 2| is provided to sup-- port lamp 54 while the necessary adjustments are being made in the drive mechanism for the apparatus. In ordinary use, lamp B4 is customarily held by the operator during the testing operation directly in front of the unsupported end of one of the reels 2| which is desired to be checked.

When it is desired to coordinate the operation of the thread-forming and take-up means for a given machine, interrupter is attached to conduit l2 of the machine by clamping means 28 in such a position that drive gear 42 will engage gearing H) which operates pump |3 when interrupter 25 is swung down into position. Toggle switch 62 is snapped into closed position so that the electrical circuit is complete. The operator grasps handle on arm 34 of interrupter 25 and swings the unit about the longitudinal axis of conduit |2 until drive gear 42 meshes with gearing l5 of pump I3.

Drive gear 42 actuated by gearing |5 of pump l3 rotates bushing and interrupter gear 4| since both gears are operatively connected to said bushing'in the manner previously described. Contact point of element 53 which, as previously explained, contacts the serrated periphery of interrupter gear 4| intermittently makes and breaks contact with contact point 56 of element 54 as said interrupter gear 4| is rotated. This recurring make and break between contact points 55 and 56 of elements 53 and 54, respectively, creates an intermittent flow of current from power unit 21 to lamp 64, causing it to flash on and off at specifically timed intervals which will be determined by the number of teeth in gears 4| and 42 as hereinafter explained.

Lamp 64 during the testing operation is positioned near the unsupported end of one of the reels 2| and due to its flashing interval produces a stroboscopic effect. The reel 2| employed in the test need not necessarily be the one which operates to withdraw the thread T being formed from the spinning solution which is forced through the pump l3 with which drive gear 42 of interrupter 25 is enmeshed. All of the reels 2| will be operating at a predetermined uniform angular velocity in accordance with the positive ill operation of the drive means enclosed in housing 8 and speed reducer 24 to which shaft 23 actuating the several transmissions 22 is connected.

By virtue of the structure of reel 2| it is necessary only to check one of the sets of bar members or 8|. For the purpose of simplifying the explanation, it will be assumed that the set ineluding bar members 80 is employed.

If the bars 80 in one of the sets of bar members of reel 2| in the course of the test appear to be standing still in the flashing light of lamp 64, the operating rate of shaft l0 driving pumps I3 is exactly coordinated with the operating rate of reel 2| in accordance with the standard determined by the proper choice of gears 4| and 42 of interruptor 25. If, on the other hand, bars 80 of reel 2| appear to be rotating either to the left or to the right as viewed in the light of lamp 64, certain adjustments must be effected in the operation of speed-changing mechanism 1 which drives shaft l0 operating pumps l3 in order to bring shaft into phase with reel 2|. The operator can readily determine by noting in which direction bars 80 of reel 2| appear to be rotating, what adjustment should be made in speed-changing mechanism 1 to coordinate the operating rate of shaft ID with that of reel 2|.

As previously indicated, the angular velocity of reel 2| may be positively determined and the reel caused to operate at a given rate of speed. Since the operation of pumps i3 is variable, it is usually desirable to adjust the speed of operation of shaft ID to bring it into proper relation with the operating speed of reel 2| after the required angular velocity of reel 2| has been provided by the proper choice of sprockets in housing 8 for the character of thread to be manufactured. The adjustment of the angular velocity of shaft l0 driving pumps I3 is accomplished by varying the output of speed-changing mechanism I which actuates shaft I0 through speed reducer 9.

In order to employ the device of the invention in coordinating the operation of shaft I!) with that of reels 2|, it is necessary to determine in advance certain specifications for gears 4| and 42 which will insure the desired results. The specification for gear 4| and 42 depends upon a number of factors including the nature of the thread to be produced with respect to its denier (the number corresponding to the weight in grams of 9000 meters of the thread), the kind of mass used in forming the thread, and other physical characteristics. Also involved are the speed of operation of reel 2|, the number of bar members in each set comprising said reel, as well as the percentage of stretch, if any, required in the thread. All of these factors are employed in determining the number of teeth on the periphery of each of gears 4| and 42 so as to translate the driving force of gearing I5 for pump l3 into a flashing rate for the lamp 64 which will determine the proper ratio between the angular velocity of shaft l0 and reel 2| for the desired set of conditions.

By way of explanation, it will be assumed that it is desired to manufacture undelustered, denier, 40 filament viscose artificial silk thread to which a 10% stretch is to be imparted. The required operating rate for the reel and the pump to produce such thread has been determined empirically in the usual manner known to the art. For purposes of illustration, it will be assumed that it has been determined in this manner that a reel of 5 inch diameter having 14 bars in each set must be operated at 200 R. P. M.

R. P. M. of the reel number of bars R. I, M. of the pumpxnumber of teeth in the pump gear is calculated. From the above data, the ratio becomes This ratio represents the relation of the number of teeth required in interrupter gear M to the number of teeth in drive gear 32. Thus, with a drive gear 42 having 20 teeth, the interrupter gear ll must have 70 teeth.

With the aforementioned gearing relation, the lamp 64 will have a flashing frequency such that each successive bar 89 of the one set of bar members of reel 2i will be illuminated as it passes a given point. If it is desired, for the sake of convenience, to employ two gears of more comparable size, it is possible to operate the apparatus efiiciently by viewing only every other bar 80 of reel 2!. Inthis way, a gear ii of approximately half the size of that calculated may be used such, for example, as one having 35 teeth instead of 70 teeth.

The proper drive gear 42 and interrupter gear 4| now having been selected are then mounted on bushing 45] and the device assembled in the manner previously described. Interrupter 25 is thereafter ready to be attached to conduit l2 for the purpose of testing the operation of shaft and detecting any discrepancy in its angular velocity with respect to that of reels 2 I.

In the foregoing description, reference has been made to the use of thread-advancing reels serving as the take-up means. Any of several suitable forms of collecting devices may be employed pro vided that the type selected has suitable markings perceptible to the operator to be viewed stroboscopically. Such collecting devices may include a spin spool, godet wheel, skeining swift or the like. If either the spin spool or godet wheel is employed, a plurality of equally spaced markings should be applied to the outermost periphery where they will be seen by the operator. Such markings will serve adequately as visible guides after the fashion of bars 8%, 8i of reel 2| or the thread-supporting arms of a skeining swift. By reason of the limitations of visual perception, however, the number of the marks or the rotational speed of the take-up means should, in general, be such as to produce a frequency of not less than ten markings or segmentspassing a given point during each one second interval.

After the device of the invention has been employed in coordinating the operation of shaft I8 and reels 2!, it may be used to particular advan tage in the inspection of reels 2! to determine whether any operating or structural irregularities are present. When the apparatus is once checked and pump shaft in is properly coordinated with reels 2i, all of the reels should upon inspection with lamp 61% appear to stand still. If for any reason any one or more of the reels do not meet this test, it indicates that such reels may be defective and should be removed for inspection or repair.

Certain modifications may be made in the apparatus hereinbefore described without departin from the spirit or scope of the invention. For instance, power unit 21 may be made portable in order that interrupter 25 may be attached to any part of the machine for the purpose of inspecting any given pump 83 or reel 2!. Interrupter gear 4| may also take the form of a disk or other suitable annular member havin a serrated periphery for actuating element 53 of breaker means 52. Similarly, wire reel 6? may be employed in coiling cable 59 extending between interrupter 25 and power unit 2? instead of cable 66 as illustrated. Other changes of like character will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art.

Under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to have reels 2! actuated by variable drivin means of a type similar to speed-changing mechanism I while pumps i3 are positively driven by motor 6 through a series of gears and sprockets. The coordinating method and apparatus of the present invention is equally well adapted to be applied to the coordination of such apparatus as it is to that hereinbefore described. The operation here differs only in respect of the fact that shaft l0 actuating pumps is is operated at a predetermined rate to insure the output required for the character of thread desired to be produced by the proper choice of sprockets in the drive means enclosed in housing 8 and gears associated therewith while the operation of reels 2! is varied by adjustment of the speed-changing mechanism until said reels are in precise coordination with shaft if! when checked stroboscopically.

It may be desirable, particularly in continuous processing apparatus of the type shown and described in the aforementioned Patent 2,225,642, to operate both shaft it and reels 25 through variable driving means so as to provide an even greater variety of operating relationships therebetween. In this event, the operating rate of shaft l0 may be checked against any one of the subsequent manipulating devices which ispositively driven at a predetermined rate such, for example, as the next reel in the series which forms part of a continuous processing apparatus and is employed in storing the thread while it is subjected to processing treatment.

The term stroboscopic viewing means as employed herein contemplates the use of comparable units in the apparatus which, although they may operate on slightly different principles, are rec ognized equivalents in the art. A shutter arrangement, a combination of slotted or notched disks and the like could be readily operated so as to produce the same stroboscopic elfect in combination with a steadily illuminated object as is accomplished with a flashing light source such as that to which the foregoing description relates. The invention is, therefore, intended to include all comparable structural forms which will operate in accordance with the method hereindescribed.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like of synthetic origin by an extrusion process employing thread-formin means and take-up means, a device for directl comparing the operating rate of one of said means with that of the other comprising a stroboscopic light emanating device and control therefor, said control being associated with and actuated by one of said means for producing an intermittent light emission at a predetermined frequency, said stroboscopic light being directed at and illuminating the other of said means.

2. A device of the character described in claim i in which the control means comprises a make and break device and actuating means for operating the make and break device, said actuating means being characterized by a serrated periphery predetermining the frequency of light emission.

3. A device of the character described in claim 2 in which the control means comprises a make and break device and actuating means operated by the thread-forming means for operating the make and break device, said actuatin means being characterized by a serrated periphery.

4. A device of the character described in claim 1 in which the control means comprises a make and break device, actuating means for operating the make and break device, said actuating means being characterized by a serrated periphery, and driving means for operating the actuating means driven by the thread-forming means.

5. Apparatus for comparing the operating rates of a supply pump for delivering 9. spinnin solution to a thread-forming means and a take-up device adjusted to operate at a predetermined rate comprising, a gear driven supply pump, a source of electrica1 energy, a lamp directed at said takeup device for emitting light impulses thereon, an interrupter for controlling the frequency of said light impulses, said interrupter being characterized by a make and break device, a toothed annular member for actuating said interrupter, and means for rotating said toothed annular member, said means bein actuated by said gear of said supply pump, the supply pump being one of the members the operating rate of which is being coordinated with that of the take-up device.

6. lln apparatus for the manufacture of thread or the like of synthetic origin by an extrusion process employing thread-forming means, a takeup means comprising a reel, a supply pump for delivering a spinning solution to said threadforming means and a drive having a gear for actuating said supply pump, a stroboscopic device for comparing the operating rate of the pump drive with that of the take-up reel comprising, a light source and control means associated with and actuated by said gear driving said supply pump for producing an intermittent flow of energy to said light source for effecting an emission of light at a rate proportional to the take-up reel rotation, said light being directed at said take up reel, said control means embodying a make and break device characterized by a plurality of spaced flexible elements each of which is provided with at least one contact point, a rotatably mounted toothed member the periphery of which contacts at least one of the flexible elements of the make and break device and a drive gear which drives said toothed member and which meshes with the gear of a said drive.

7. Apparatus of the character described in claim 6 in which the take-up reel comprises a thread store-thread advancing device having a periphery of a plurality of interdigitating threadbearing bar members and said stroboscopic light is directed at said bar members.

ALDEN H. BURKHOLDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,716,441 Hickman June 11, 1929 1,920,113 Simmons July 25, 1933 2,028,821 Brenzinger Jan. 28, 1936 2,060,097 McKee et a1 Nov. 10, 1936 2,119,627 Kriek June 7, 1938 2,207,866 Kriek July 16, 1940 2,344,037 Fuller Mar. 14, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 607,324 France Mar. 26, 1926 OTHER REFERENCES Artificial Silk, by Reinthaler, published by Van Nostrand Company, New York, 1929. (Copy to be found in Div. 15.) 

